Raccoons are nocturnal mammals with a black “mask” on their faces, short, stocky bodies, and striped tails that make them clearly identifiable.
Raccoons are frequently seen in places like chimneys and attics, especially when a female is about to give birth; they prefer the secluded, warm, dry shelters that most homes can afford to battle the cold.
They may be found on your porches or structures near your home, depending on food availability and access. Raccoon removal should be handled by a professional, as these pests can spread diseases and create a huge problem in and around your home.
Raccoon removal companies will assist you in eliminating raccoon-related pest infestations within your home or garage. Due to the general nature of wildlife restrictions, eradicating raccoons and other vermin necessitates specialized training and methods for safe and effective removal and relocation.
The type of pest you have and the intensity of the infestation are two elements that influence how much you pay for removal services.
When dead raccoons are found in walls or other difficult-to-reach spots, it costs more to remove them than it does to keep them alive. Raccoon removal costs may also be more expensive because they are more challenging to trap or remove, or simply because of their size.
The number of visits necessary to release and set up traps will also have an impact on the amount you pay.
Costs And Other Factors To Consider
Raccoons carry a variety of diseases and are frequently infested with fleas and ticks. Professional cleanup following raccoon removal is suggested for all raccoon infestations, despite the fact that it might be costly.
- Instead of charging by the service, some businesses may charge fees for each return visit. Depending on the work to be done, this charge will be similar to the original inspection fee, or significantly higher.
- Some companies only provide raccoon removal, not cleanup or remediation.
Consider hiring a pest control service that will handle all costs of the infestation, so you’ll only have to pay one amount for labor and service.
A home’s insurance policy may cover some of the necessary damage repairs. Before you pay for services out of your own pocket, make sure you know these:
- The relocation of live animals is a part of this process.
- Poisoning raccoons is unlawful.
- Pest control services will only remove dead animals already present.
- And because it is a more involved process, killing live animals always costs more.
The cost of raccoon removal differs based on the area of the infestation, the number of pests present, and the removal methods used, among other factors.
Raccoon pest treatment costs range from $300 to $550 on average, with the average homeowner paying $450 to install traps, relocate raccoons, and clean up and restore the impacted area on their property.
Some homeowners, on the other hand, spend as little as $175 to get rid of raccoons without having to clean or repair their homes. Trapping and relocating a family of raccoons, including the mother raccoon and baby raccoons, as well as assisting with structural repairs, might cost up to $1,500.
How to Pick a Raccoon Removal service
When choosing a raccoon removal service, the first and most critical factor to examine is whether or not the service is legally permitted to conduct the service. To do animal capture or relocation in most places, you’ll need a license or certification. Even if your location does not need or enforce licensing, there will almost certainly be some type of certification that will indicate the company’s reputability.
Apart from licensing, the best approach to learn about a company’s reputation is to chat with people who have utilized the service.
These days, most raccoon removal services have an online presence. They’ll very certainly be posted on user-generated review sites as well. This is a terrific approach to learn about a company’s reputation and how satisfied their prior clients were with their job.
Raccoon removal is a specialist service that necessitates a high level of ability and experience. As a result, it’s critical to evaluate a company before hiring them.
Perform a web search for raccoon removal services in your area in general or for a specific company you’re interested in perhaps hiring. Search for as much information as you can and, most crucially, user feedback.
It’s great to know if one user says the company is either excellent or bad, but it’s difficult to be certain without many testimonials. It’s all too easy for a single customer to have a once-in-a-lifetime good or negative encounter. The best method to acquire an accurate picture of a company’s reputation is to get a review of past customers’ experiences.
Another thing to remember is that there is no such thing as a fixed rate in the field of wildlife removal. Every job is unique, and each one has its own set of needs and expectations. If a company offers a fixed charge with no questions asked, it’s a solid reason to be wary.
A company that charges a flat fee is most usually either trying to undercut the competition with low pricing and bad labor or scamming customers by charging an inflated, high-end ceiling rate on all jobs, regardless of needs.
Remember that, like with most things in life, you get what you pay for while getting estimates and comparing pricing. You run the risk of obtaining subpar work if you choose the cheapest option available. There’s nothing wrong with hiring someone based on the lowest price but use caution. If the price appears to be too good to be true, it most likely is.
Take into account the company’s entire range of services as well. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, as the saying goes. That is to say, if a corporation offers preventative measures for an additional cost, you may end up saving more money in the long term.
Many dependable raccoon removal firms even offer a year-long warranty on their services. That means they’ll remove a raccoon for free if it returns within a year.
Finally, but certainly not least, it is critical that the raccoon removal firm you select is both safe and humane. Cruelty of any type should never be considered. Most places have strong animal cruelty rules that dictate what methods animal removal services are authorized to utilize.
In general, these rules will make some types of traps and removal methods illegal. Raccoon removal businesses that are licensed and accredited will almost certainly employ humane methods.
However, it may be worthwhile to conduct an independent study and become familiar with what is safe, humane, and legal, just in case either of these businesses are breaking the law.
Raccoons are a nuisance, but they are not to be treated cruelly. If you come across a removal firm that is breaching the law, report them right away.